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(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

-J. MUNDBLL & W. J. GORDON.

HYDROGARBON FURNACE.

N0. 263,198. Patented Aug. 22; 1882..

UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

JAMES MUN DELL AND WILLIAM J. GORDON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PA., ASSIGN- ORSOF ONE-THIRD TO JOHN MUNDELL, OF SAME PLACE.-

IHYDROCARBON-FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 263,198, dated August22, 1882. Application filed March 27, 1882. (ModeL) To all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that we, JAMES MUNDELL and WILLIAM J. GORDON, both citizensof the United States, residing at the city and county of Philadelphia,and State of Pennsylvania,

have jointly invented new and useful Improve ments inHydrocarbon-Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to that class of fur- 1O naces in which a jet ofliquid hydrocarbon is injected into the furnace as spray or vapor bysteam for use as fuel.

Our improvements consist in means for injectin g the hydrocarbon sprayinto the furnace,

comprehending an opening in the furnace-wall provided with top andbottom adjustable sprayplates projecting within the furnace and anejector, means for spreading and distributing the flame of the injectedvapor in the combus- 2o Lion-chamber, means for preventing the flamefrom backing against the ejector and for regulatin g the quantity offlame, and in the construction of the furnace, whereby it may be adaptedfor the use of ordinary carbonaceous fuel, all

2 5 of which will be hereinafter particularly de scribed, and embracedin specific claims.

While our improvements are particularly designed for use with asteam-boiler furnace, and so hereinafter described, it is obvious thatby making the necessary workshop changes they may be applied as meansfor producing combustion of hydrocarbons in any suitable furnace usedfor any purpose.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure1 rep- 3 5 resents a view inperspective of a steam-boiler furnace embracing our invention; Fig. 2, avertical cross-section of the furnace, showing the jet from the sprayplates or shutters and the means for receiving, spreading, anddistribut- 0 in g the flame within the furnace; Fig. 3, a verticalcross-section of the furnace asadapted for ordinary carbonaceous fuel,the flame receiving and distributing abutment and its bedplate beingremoved, and the spray plates or shutters closing the furnace-openingsof the vaporizer; Fig. 4, a longitudinal section of the ejector andvaporizer; Fig. 5, a cross-section of the same; Fig. 6, theejector-forming tube or point in elevation; and Fig. 7, Sheet 1, is aperspective of the flame receiving and distributing abutment, thebed-plate whereof forms the closed bottom of the furnace.

In these drawings, A is an ordinary steam- .boiler, and B the furnace orfire-box. At one or preferably at both sides of the fire-box areopenings 0 in its walls, through which the liquid hydrocarbon and steamareinj ectedin spray or vapor into the combustion-chamber or firebox Bfrom the vaporizing apparatus against a refracting-abutment, and throughwhich opening air is entrained as an aid to combustion.- Projectinginwardly and attached to the fur-- nace-wall at the top and bottom ofsaid openings, to form a directing-mouth, are plates or shutters D 1),adapted to be operated to con- C 5 verge or diverge to widen or narrowthe month between which passes the jet of liquid fuel, spraying intovapor and flame as it is forced through the mouth into thecombustionchamher and tubes of the boiler. The functions of these platesor shutters are to prevent, by their convergence to a narrow mouth orexit, the backing of the flame out of said wall-openings and against theorifice of the vaporizer,which projects into or in close proximity tothe open- 7 5 .ing 0 in the furnace, and to converge or diverge to makethe throat narrower or wider in different degrees, or to close the mouthaltogether, as hereinafter described. Such a furnace, when provided witha closed bottom, a suitable flame receiving and distributing abutment orsurface, and a door or ignition-openin g, comprehends our invention,broadly, in connection with a suitable vaporizing apparatus or device. Ajet of steam to atomize a jet of the liquid and to inject the spray orvapor into the furnace is supplied, as shown, from the boiler; but suchsteam-supply may be from a pump or engine. The vaporizing apparatusshown is constructed, arranged, and supported 0 in the following manner:

)outiguous to the jet-receiving opening 0, and projecting from theoutside of the furnace I on both sides, or one side in some cases,) arebrackets or projections a a, which support 5 couplings b b, constitutingthe ejector and vaporizingdeviceproper. Withinthesecouplings are tappedor otherwise connected the oil-supply pipe (1 and the steam-supply-pipee, and a spray-nozzle, f, which may project within or in close proximitytothe furnace-openingO, The steam branch pipes 0 rise vertically and aresuitably' as will be presently described.'

ply of oilfrom a suitably-elevated tank or reservoir. A cock, I, admitssteam from the boiler to the steam-pipe and shuts off or regulates thequantity to the steam-pipe, as may be desired. There are also suitablecocks, m n, to regulate the flow of steam and oil from the main orsupply pipes above described into their branch pipes of one or morevaporizing devices, the engineer manipulating them to the properadjustment required for the flow, in his discretion, to one or a seriesof vaporizing devices all having the same relation to thefurnaceopening. There should also be a cut-off cock (not shown) on themain oil-supply pipe. The oil branch pipe at terminates in an ejectortube or point, 4, which passes into and through the coupling 7) andextends to or nearly to the end of the sprayingnozzle f, as shown inFigs. 5

.6, and 7, which incloses the ejector tube or point r, leaving a spacearound it, which communicates with the vertical steamepipe e, and whichspace forms the ejector-orifice for the steam-jet, while the tube rtapers to its point and forms the ejector for the oil. The ejectortubeis preferably a separate section screwed into the oil-pipe section, andthe latter is preferably screwed into the coupling 0, so that its endwill leave uncovered the steam communication of thespraying-nozzle.Whilethisconstruction is well adapted for the purpose, yet it may bevaried. But, of whatever construction and joining of these parts, it isimportant that the oil-ejector section shall maintain a perfectlycentralrelation to the steam-spraying orifice, in order that the steam shallissue in a hollow column, enveloping the jet of oil, and both beprojected in a manner to produce perfect atomization of the oil at theejector-point and at a point where both the steam and the oil will bemixed with air and projected into the furnace. For this purpose theoil-ejector tube is formed with two or more longitudinal snrfaceedges,V, which form bearings upon the inner walls of the spraying-section, andthus maintain a central position in the steamway, while giving freeaccess for the steam all around the flattened or curved sides of theejector-tube, so that it will issue with equal body and force upon thejet of oil, producing a perfect admixture of both with air, which willthereby be vcompletely vaporized at the point of entrance into thefurnace, producing a white and uniform heat in every part of thefurnace, by reason of the arrest or interruption of the vapor, causingits spreading and distribution, so that the flame will rise and passthrough the tubes of the boiler or-against the walls to be heated.

Access may be had to the orifice of the oilejector tube for the purposeof cleaning it and keeping it free from clogging by means of ascrew-plug, 0, screwed into the oil-pipe j at a point opposite itsjunction with the branch oilpipe 61 and in line with the ejector-tube,so that by removing said screw-plug and inserting a wire into the pipeit may be extended into and through the oil-ejector tube. This facilityfor cleaning the parts liable to clog renders it unnecessary to separatethe parts of the vaporizing apparatus or device.

The abutment F, which I have referred to as receiving and distributingthe projected flame, is arranged centrally within the furnacechamberupon a suitable bed or slabs of firebrick, asbestus, or other suitablematerial. The abutment is made of similar material, with its sidesconcave, and is arranged in the direction of the length of the furnaceor' boiler, so as to receive the flame from both sides of the furnace,and, interrupting its forcible projection, cause it to spread upward andfill the chamber alike at every point from both sides of the abutment.The bed or slabs F of the abutment is adjustably seated upon an ironbed-plate, F -in the example shown is supported upon the usualfurnace-grate, Gr fllld forms a closed bottom for the furnace. Thisbed-plate is provided with hooks, and is otherwise adapted to be drawnout of the furnace to uncover the grate for use as an ordinarycoal-furnace, in which case the openings in the furnace-walls are closedby the plates or shutters D l), the vaporizing device not being used.The abutment and the slabs may be suitably joined to facilitate theirremoval and replacement by others, and the slabs may be guttered orconcaved on their upper surface from end to end, or in linescorresponding with the ejector or ejcctors, so as to receive theimpingement of the flame and give it the proper direction. This capacityfor converting a hydrocarbon-furnace into an ordinary fuel-fun nace isimportant in giving the advantage for general use, and especially ingiving the advantage for using ordinary fuel with a grate for raisingsteam at the commencement.

The mouth-forming plates or shutters D D are operated from outside bypintle-rods it, having their bearings in clamps s s, bolted to thefurnace-wall, and when said plates are brought to the proper adjustmentor closed, as the case may be, said screw-bolts are driven home to forcethe clamps against the pintles 7c, and thus hold the plates in thedesired position of adjustment; but any suitable clamping device mightbe used.

It may be in some cases important to adjust the shutters both upward orboth downward, to give direction to the spray or vapor at its entranceinto the furnace, and this capacity for adjustment and changing theposition of the spray-plates gives many advantages in adapting their usefor different forms of furnaces.

The number and location of the openings in, the'furnace will be governedby the formsand character of the furnace. Nor is the form of theopenings shown nor having the shutters ofa single plate controllingpoints in these matters, as the openings may be of any suitable form andthe shutters in sections adapted for use and adjustment with separateand independent openings and ejectors in the same line. So, also, theshutters may be corrugated to prevent their warping, and. they may bemade of fire-brick slabs, or of any suitable material, and hung in anysuitable manner, so long as they are adapted for the functions andpurposes stated, and are each provided with means whereby one may beadjusted and held independent of the other and in co-operationwith it.Preferably the shutters are hung upon rods on the outer walls of thefurnace, and they are of a Width to project a short distance beyond theinner walls of the furnace, and when closed their inner edges arejoinedso as to form a V in cross-section and a close joint.

When the furnace is overcharged with flame and becomes too hot the flameseeks an exit back through the openings 0; but our construction ofprotectin g plates or shutters checks this tendency and guards theejector from being unduly heated by or from contact with the flames, andby narrowing the mouth formed between the approaching ends ofthe platesthis backing out of flame is checked. When the jets are in action themouth is always, however, to be kept sufficiently wide to permit theexit of the spray into the combustionchamber in its course from theejector. When a high pressure of steam is (or'in the beginning ofcombustion) full, jets of oil and steam are fed through the mouthsomewhat widened, and vice versa for a low pressure. The smokestackserves as a vent to the boiler-flues; but no smoke, however, is thrownoff, as there is an absolute combustion of the gases.

An auxiliary boiler may be used to supply steam for the jet at thebeginning; or the abutment supporting the bed-plate may be drawn out ofthe furnace, so as to use the grate for a coal-fire to raise steam, and,when the requisite amount of steam is generated in the boiler, rake outthe fire, put in the bed-plate, with its abutment, open theshutter-plates, turn on the cocks, as described, and ignite the sprayedvapor, when the steam in the boiler will continue the flow ofjets; or,where another boiler is near, steam maybe injected as the sprayingjet bysuitable hose-connection with the main steam-pipe or otherwise.

It is obvious that the steam-pipes may be compactly arranged upon theboiler, and that the oil-supply pipe or pipes may be connected with theejector or ejectors in anysuitable manner; nor do we confine ourselvesto the par.-

ticular form and construction of the abutment shown.

I claim- 1. In a hydrocarbon-furnace, the combination, with, avaporizing apparatus and the firebox, of. wall-openings andinwardly-projecting adjustable shutters or plates, substantially as andfor the purpose specified.

2. The combination, in a hydrocarbon-furn ace, ofa vaporizing apparatus,a fire-box. havshutters or plates, with the pintle-rods and the clampstherefor, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

4. In combination, the combustion-chamber provided with narrowhorizontal openings in its opposite walls, hinged plates or shutters forsaid openings, and end doors, the boiler, the pipes h 6, connected withthe steam-chamber, the pipes j and cl, the couplings ii, and thespraying-ejectors carried by said couplings, all constructed andarranged substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

5. In a hydrocarbon-furnace, the combination, with the wall-opening 0,provided with shutters or plates adapted to be closed, as set forth, avaporizing apparatus, and the grate of the furnace, of a removablebed-plate, F

whereby the furnace may be converted for the burning of ordinarycarbonaceous fuels, substantially as described.

6. In a hydrocarbon-furnace, the combination, with the wall-openings 0,provided with shutters or plates D D, adapted to be adjusted'nearer toor farther from each other, of a removable abutment and bed-platearranged upon the grate-bottom of the furnace,substantially asdescribed, for the purpose specified.

7. In a hydrocarbon-furnace, the combination, with the wall-openings andtheir inwardly-projecting shutters or plates D D, of abed-plate, F,having the curving abutment, for the purpose set forth.

8. The nozzle of the oil-ejector, having surface-edges, in combinationwith a steam-spraying tube, substantially as described, for the purposespecified.

9. The steam spraying tube and the oilejector, having their orifices ator near the same point, one within the other, in combination with thefire-box having wall-openings,

and the adjustable spray-directing plates or shutters, substantially asherein set forth.

10. A hydrocarbon-furnace provided with a grate and a removablegrate-closing plate or bottom, in combination with a vaporizingapparatus, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

11. The combination, in a hydrocarbon-furnace, of a combustion-chamberprovided with narrow horizontal openings in its opposite walls and enddoors, with an abutment arranged upon the grate and having its oppositesides concave, the va-porizing-ejectors, and the hinged plates,substantially as described. 12. The fire-box of a hydrocarbon-furnacefor steam-boilers, having opposite wall-openings, a centrally-arrangedabutment, and plates or shutters for said wall-openings, in combinationwith one or more steui'n-sprztying orifices connected with the dome ofsaid boiler, and 1 one or more oil-ejectors connected with a sinlesource of su 1 7 and m'rnn ed in relation to the steam-spraying orificeor orifices, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set :5 our hands in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES MUNDELL. WILLIAM J. GORDON. Witnesses:

' A. E. H. JoHNsoN,

J. W. HAMILTON JOHNSON.

